Stocking



Feb. 23, 1932. G A STACKHOUSE 1,846,370

SPRING STRUCTURE" Filed Feb. 26, 1930 INVENT OR aar 6 fi. Jfac/rhausc 6 WNW ORNEYS Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES ADMIN H. WITTENBERG, 035 LOS .ANGELES, CALIFORNIA STOCKING Application filed June 30, 1930. Serial No. 484,764.

.-'\Iy invention relates to a reinforced stocking and has particular reference to a stocking of the full-fashioned type with a reinforcing member placed in the stocking at the upper part of the leg portion in the seam by means of which the stocking is held togather, the reinforcing member forming a part of the seam and being placed in the seam at the junctiu'e of the lowir edge of the downwardly folded portion of the stocking where it is admitted into or joined to the body' of the stocking.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a reinforcing member., by means of which the seam at the upper portion of the stocking is reinforced and breaking out of the seam is prevented, thereby strengthening the stocking at this particular point.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a reinforced stocking having a woven member sewed into the seam only, whereby the seam is materially strengthened and the free edges of the reinforcing member are unattached from the stocking or attached only with a stitch or two so as to hold them flat, thereby prevent ing any drawing or breakage ofthe threads of the stocking, and allowing this portion of the stocking to remain smooth.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings and in which- Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a stocking embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the upper portion of the stocking with the front portion of the stocking broken away and show ing the reinforcing member attached to the rear of the stocking; and

Figure 3 is a transverse. sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a stocking 10 is shown of the full fashioned type having a longitudinally extending seam 11 at the rear thereof by means of which the sections of the leg portion of the stocking are secured together. In formin the fulLfashioned stocking it will be un erstood that the le portions are knitted in flat form and wi the edges of the sections free, the edges thereafter being stitched together to fashion the stocking into its tubular form as finally worn.

In the manufacture of stockings it has been the practice to form the top portion of the stocking of double la ers of material by forming the sections 0 the stocking of additional length and folding the top portion of the stocking down a predetermined distance and knitting the free ends of the warp threads into the fabric body of the stocking along the line 12, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, thereby providing a cult or reinforced stocking top oftwo layers of material to which the hose supporters or other fastening means are attached, this double thickness affording reater wear-resisting ualities than would e the case if a sin le tlickness of material were used. When t he stocking is seamed up the free edges of the portions are sewed together by the continuous seam 11.

In stockingsas ordinarily manufactured, due to the stresses placed 11 on the stocking by the supporters and the ending stresses upon the threads of the stocking when the le of the wearer is flexed, an unusual amount of stress is placed upon the stocking where the stitching 11 crosses the line 12 where the cuff portion is joined to the single layer of the stocking, so that the seams tear, causing the stocking to break and run at this point, particularly in the liner grades of hosiery made up of extremely fine silk threads. In my improved stocking 1 place a reinforcing member 13 on the inside of the stocking at the rear portion thereof, this member being made of linencloth, or other suitable finely woven material having a maximum amount of strength, and is seamed into the stocking by the line of stitching 11 so that the member 13 forms an integral part of the row of stitching 11 by means of which the sections of stocking are secured together. This member 13 can be slightly oval in shape or circular,

as the case may he, or may be a narrow tape 1 'lower edge of the double knit of suflicient width so that it is caught by the threads which make up the line 0 stitching 11.

The proper form is shown in Figures 1 and 2 with stitches 14 and 15 at the sides thereof to hold the member 13 down against the body of the stocking. The stitching is very light and will not cause the threads to pull or break but is merely intended to hold the member 13 in fiat condition and prevent its rolling. This member being much stronger than the threads making up the stocking, forms a reinforcing member which supports the stitches at this point and also reinforces the seam preventing the tearing out of the stitches or the breakin of the threads in the stocking on each side t ereof, thus materially adding to the life of the stocking.

In inserting the reinforcing member in the stocking it is only necessary to place it in position during the sewing operation and it is sewed into the stocking at the same operation by means of which the sections of the stock ing are secured together.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A full-fashioned stocking having a. double knit top portion and a reinforcing member sewed into the longitudinally extending seam of the stocking and extending to a point below where the double knit top portion of the stocking is joined to the body of the stocking.

2. A full-fashioned stocking having a double knit top portion and a reinforcing member of strong woven material sewed into the longitudinally extending seam of the stocking forming the junction of the sections thereof and extending below the portion or top portion of the stocking.

3. A full-fashioned stocking having a double knit top portion and a reinforcing member of strong woven material sewed into the longitudinally extending seam of the stocking where the double knit portion or top portion of the stocking is joined with the body portion thereof the reinforcing member being stitched to the stocking at the sides thereof at the line of juncture of the double knit portion of the stocking and free at its other marginal edges.

4. A full-fashioned stocking having a dougle knit top portion and a reinforcing member sewed into the longitudinally extending seam of the stocking at the rear of the upper leg portion of the stocking.

5. A full fashioned stocking having a double knit top portion, a line of stitching forming a seam at the rear of said stocking and extending longitudinally thereof throughout 

